Qadri filling chairs for his APC today

by STAFF REPORT , (Last Updated June 28, 2014)

Most political parties are expected to attend the All Parties Conference (APC) convened by Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) along with its like-minded parties on Sunday with Model Town tragedy being the meeting’s agenda.

Most significant would be the participation of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Awami National Party (ANP) which were earlier reluctant in being a part of any effort made by PAT chief Dr Tahirul Qadri against the government.

Interestingly, parties from Sindh and Balochistan are also attending the ‘grand show’.

According to sources, Qadri himself had contacted PPP’s Punjab President Manzoor Wattoo and extended him the invitation. The PPP leader has promised to send a party delegation after the telephonic contact, insiders claimed.

Likewise, Qadri also contacted ANP leaders including former Railways minister Ghulam Bilour and invited his party.

Moreover, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) also announced Saturday that it would send a three-member team to the APC. Shah Mahmood Qureshi will lead the PTI’s side comprising opposition leader in the Punjab Assembly Mahmoodur Rashid and PTI Punjab President Ejaz Chaudhry.

According to PAT sources, Qadri’s 10-point reform agenda will also be taken up with the PTI’s delegation while PTI’s coalition partner in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Jamaat-e-Islami, will also attend the conference.

However, Jamiat-e-Ulema-e-Islam-Sami (JUI-S) chief Maulana Samiul Haq has refused to be a part of the APC.

JUI-S spokesman Maulana Asim Makhdoom said on Saturday that his party condemns the Model Town incident but will not take part in Qadri’s APC as it had no clear agenda.

In the meanwhile, Pakistan Muslim League – Quaid (PML-Q) senior leaders also met Qadri at his residence and finalised arrangements for the conference. Both sides used their contacts to broaden representation in the event.